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Re: "cost" of crush and strain

>In y'alls' experience, is it faster to crush and strain a super as opposed to removing the cappings and extracting in a 2-frame junior bench extractor (which I was lucky enough to have a brother give to me)?

Yes it's faster to crush and strain. But you'll get more honey next year if you have drawn comb... if you have more honey than you need anyway, it probably doesn't matter. If you need more wax, then crush and strain would be better.

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

In my opinion, crush-and-strain works great for foundationless approach. Extraction by centrifugal force is suitable for classical frames with foundation. I also noticed that in my case, foundationless frames have always thicker comb than frames with foundation in the same beehive - thus, more honey per frame since I am mostly foundationless. It is amazing how little wax is in freshly made honey-comb! Another advantage of the crush-and-strain method is that it is easy to scale - from kitchen pot to barrel if necessary. Sergey

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

I can cut out a comb and mash it in a matter of seconds per comb. To uncap it takes longer than that, and then I still have to extract it, which at best takes several minutes. I can crush and strain a super of honey much faster than I can extract it.

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

my $.02

Almost nothing new gets cheaper over time. Buy what you can afford today, because you might not be able to afford it tomorrow. If something happens you can always sell it for most if not all of your money back.

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

Originally Posted by cerezha

Uncapping, loading into extractor, unloading, cleaning extractor when done... it seems to me - just more steps and more equipment...

Cool, thanks. I forgot about the time it takes to load, flip the frames over and clean everything out. I will give crush & strain a try this year, hope I don't get my wife angry for dripping honey and/or using her kitchen equipment, and see how it all works out.

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

Originally Posted by Tom Davidson

... hope I don't get my wife angry for dripping honey and/or using her kitchen equipment...

Yes, very important point! Our house already sticky but I feel that my wife easier tolerate usage of her pot rather than mechanical extractor in the center of the kitchen... we do not have much space...
Sergey

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

Originally Posted by NasalSponge

My foundationless extract just fine however I did cross wire them. 8)

Being committed to "lazy beekeeping", I didn't cross-wire my spring foundationless and didn't have a single blowout. Just wait until the combs are "cured" and you're good to go, as long as you start from slow and work up to fast.

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

How would the speed of drawing comb on new wax foundation compare to leaving a 3/4'' strip of comb on the top edge like in the video . I just assumed I would have to take my wedge top bar frames apart and slip in a new sheet of foundation every time .

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

And it has a nicer flavour, too.

After you did the crush and strain put the wax and honey in a pan on low heat. Honey and wax separate. This honey is not for eating, but you can make honey mead or honey vinegar. That's what I do. No waste.

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

Ooo
I think, we have something in common! I "invented" the whole recycling process. I start with crushed honey in double-pot (steamer insert and pot). Honey dripped into the pot. When done, I pour honey into the jars and add some cold boiled water into the pot, reinstall insert with wax. So, the rest (~20%) of the honey retained in crushed wax will dissolve in the water. When done - pour honey-water (d=1.120) into the bottle for fermentation (the mead). Move wax into plastic mesh-bad (from lemons) and place it in the pot, fill up with water, re-install insert. Boil water - wax melted and form a cake on the surface, cool it down. Leftovers from the mesh-bag used as a fertilizer in the garden! So, I have honey, mead, wax, propolis and fertilizer for the garden. My biggest problem is the mead - the taste is inconsistent but my Russian friends drink it anyway
3 med. frames = 7.4 kg honey + 1 gal the mead (d=1.120) + 0.4 kg wax + some propolis

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

>I think I would sale comb honey, before crush and strain

It depends on your market. I did both for 26 years. Some people area always going to want liquid honey... but I agree, you should cultivate a market for comb honey. I find older people and most ethnic groups seem to appreciate it already, you just have to find them.

Re: "cost" of crush and strain

I find a lot of people ask for comb but it is because they have heard grandma or grandpa talk about it. When it comes down to it most do not come back for more comb just the honey. It's a nostalgic thing for the older generation in the US reminding them of when they did not have candy at their finger tips.
For the time and effort involved I just crush and strain and only bottle a few quarts of comb for those that I know really want it maybe 15-20 jars a year. In some areas they may pay more but they are not that willing in this area so it's not worth it for me.